breeding...

My husband and I are interested in the possibility of breeding...I need some advice Ive been doing quite a bit of research..Learing all I can. I dont want any critism as this is something we are only thinking about. I am a licensed vet tech. I do not want to do this for the money I want to produce good quality kittens that available at decent prices they would be sold with all shots/papers/spayed or neutered at 12 wks of age and each possible owner would go through an adoption process.

FIND a mentor in the breed you want

SHOW a alter in chosen breed

Throughly research the lines youll be using and make sure they are nt known for the same "faults"

You'll probably find it easier to buy an entire if you have experience in showing neuters first. Most breeders won't sell an entire to an unknown.

Over here you have to get registered through one of the associations first too, as no one will sell to an unregistered breeder.

I know the breeder of my show neuters would be more than happy to be my mentor should I ever go into breeding, we've built a friendship since I got my kittens from her. I turn to her any time I need advice.

What breed are you looking at?

Thanks...

Id like to add another reason why we would like to do this as well There are no breeders in our local area the nearest one is about 4 hours away I went and looked at her cattery to get an idea and it was awful I reported them to their aspca...she was closed about a month later. We got our himalayan from a breeder here who said this would be her last litter because she is elderly and cant do it any more her cattery was very nice and in good condition clean litter boxes fresh food/water she had a run for both her females and males it was very nice

Right now himalayans...I dont want to get into too much so we will start wit himalayns and see how it goes after that possibly bengals and siamese.



Edit: Here is some basic information on our house and land...We have 2200 square foot and a little over an acre of land with it.

Any persian breeders near??? himis if I am not under too much medication are a colorpt persian

not that I know of though there is a ragdoll breeder about 15 mintues from my house her and I dont get a long in a phone conversation I had with her she mentioned that "theyre just animals if it doesnt work out we can either put it down or try and find a new home if its not too old"

Edit: We will not go into what I said back to her due to the fact that it is not approiate for this site.

IMO you really don't want to be doing 3 different breeds at once. Devote yourself to bettering just one breed at a time, unless it's related breeds like Persians/Himmis

"missymotus IMO you really don't want to be doing 3 different breeds at once. Devote yourself to bettering just one breed at a time, unless it's related breeds like Persians/Himmy's "

never thought of it that way but I do like that idea

Yeah .. i for one think kitty mill or BYB if more than two related breeds are being breed ...

yeah like I said I hadnt thought of that but we are deffinately great with being devoted to one breed

You probably have your heart set on the persians/himalayan, but I'd like to suggest that you work with a breed that is not as popular.
The lesser known breeds need good breeders to continue the lines.

Persians, Bengals, Ragdolls, Abby's and Main Coons are flooded with breeders. Good ones and BYB's alike. To be totally honest with you, these breeds don't need more breeders jumping on board.

If you like the long hairs, how about Turkish Vans or the Norwegian Forest Cat. Shorthairs: Singapura, Snowshoe, Chartreux, Toyger or Russian Blue.

Just a suggestion.

Good Luck!

I think you should attend a cat show as a spectator and take your time really looking at the breeds. When you decide on the breed you like, talk with a breeder and acquire an alter to show.

Showing is very important. By showing an alter you will learn about the standard of your chosen breed. This will teach you what to strive for in your breeding program. IMO there is no other way to learn this accept through showing.

By showing first you will meet breeders and learn which ones you would like to work with. You will also be proving yourself dedicated to the breed and responsible. You will also learn about genetics and health problems in your breed.

IMO if you really care about a certain breed, you will learn all you can about the breed (good and bad points) and get into showing BEFORE you start breeding. Most breeders didn't start out putting two cats together. They started in the show ring, built up a friendship with other people who liked the same breed, watched the judges, listened to both judges and other breeders to evaluate.

Then after showing an alter or two, bought breeding cats (best to start off with a female and have connections for her to be bred). Males will have to be caged at some point in their lives as breeding cats - or confined to a room and can't be running with everyone as they will spray.

Also before you breed, you need to have a waiting list of interested people and that can be done at the shows. I showed mixed HHP's at first, got into purebreds but it was about 5 yrs before I got my first breeding cats. And by showing, I built up friendships and prospects. I always had a waiting list of people and didn't breed till I had one.

Breeding takes dedication. If you are not out to improve the breed and the lines, or only breeding once or twice for the "fun of it", then you shouldn't be breeding at all. Its serious work to produce a top quality cat. Its not good enough just to produce a few good cats - they should be better then that.

I suggest you attend a few cat shows in your area. Look at breeds and talk to the breeders. Get yourself on a waiting list for a show alter cat to start. Most breeders do NOT hand over breeding cats to a novice.

Originally Posted by Kai Bengals

If you like the long hairs, how about Turkish Vans or the Norwegian Forest Cat. Shorthairs: Singapura, Snowshoe, Chartreux, Toyger or Russian Blue.

Click to expand...

Not too OT I hope. . .

Persians are everywhere. They have more cats born of one color in a single year than the entire number of kittens any of these breeds ever produced!!

Turkish Vans need new breeders, there are only a handful of breeders out there actively showing. Siberians rather uncommon too; I have never seen one in premiership, only a couple in championship.

The Singapura breed is very rare, as are Chartreux. I rarely see them in the show hall. Such a shame, they are charming cats.

if you would like to send me a pm I have a friend in VA who has been showing and breeding Persian's for many years. I am sure he would be happy to speak with you and be a mentor

I agree with the sentiment that there are many breeds that need good breeders, and the other aspect of that is the fact that any breeder is going to get some "pet quality" cats. If you're in the middle of nowhere, and you're breeding a popular breed, you will have a hard time placing those pet quality cats. However, if you're breeding a more uncommon breed, you may be the only breeder in your state -- and that also means that people will be willing to travel to pick up your cats. Especially if you're unable to show frequently due to location.

Professional breeders/showers will fly/drive far to see and/or purchase a kitten that is good quality, but there's less demand for kittens with faults. It's not about making money, but about the cats -- if you have 2 litters in a row that have faults (and there's no interest from other breeders/showers in those cats), you have 4-8 cats you're stuck with unless you find people who want them as pets. It's one of the major risks, in my opinion, since extra cats means you're stuck with the food/vet bill for more animals that are, while lovely, "just" pets.

The breeder I got Juniper from was ending her Abyssinian breeding program because her breeding cats were producing kittens with faults, and she didn't have the time/money to deal with getting new sires/dams simply to make a perfect showcat. Those kittens still needed a home, after all. She was having good luck with Ocicats so she transitioned over fully to them.

Anyway, it's a big decision and it's not one that you'll make overnight, so just keep an open mind for which breed you'll work with once you get started at shows.

Eggy,

PM me on the breeder - just curious as to who it was with the Ocicats - since there are few breeders of them

Thanks guys for all the wonderful information!!! We are still doing heavy research as well as looking for shows to attend Of course right now I am out of work so the shows will come later as I said we are only thinking about at the moment If we decide to do it then I want it done right! My kittens would be sold spayed/neutered at 8wks and sold at 12-16 wks. We would have a pre-adoption application as well as a contract signed at the sell of each kitten. We would be willing to take back any kitten if at ANY time the person the kitten was sold to couldnt keep it. Looks like Ive still got quite a bit of research to do

You do have the right ideas to start with . Good luck in your future - sounds like you will join the ranks of "good breeder"